Offshore Wind Energy for Humboldt County
Humboldt County’s expansive coastline is home to one of the greatest offshore wind resources in the nation. Turbines spinning off the North Coast could potentially produce more than 150% of the state’s current demand for electricity with renewable, carbon-free power. Humboldt County has been featured in local, national, and international news since 2018 as a potentially ideal location for offshore wind energy generation.
Why Offshore Wind?
- The North Coast has world-class offshore wind resources.
- Floating turbine technology is now available to unlock its potential on the Pacific Coast.
- Offshore wind diversifies the renewable energy portfolio needed to cut California’s greenhouse gas emissions.
- Humboldt Bay is well suited to serve as a hub for a broader West Coast offshore wind industry.
How it Works
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is the federal agency responsible for energy project leasing in federal waters. To learn more about the history of offshore wind, how it works, and the steps BOEM takes to work with many stakeholders when planning offshore wind development, watch BOEM’s “Renewable Energy Whiteboard” video.
A Timeline of Offshore Wind on the Redwood Coast
2018 – Redwood Coast Offshore Wind
The Redwood Coast Offshore Wind Project was a commercial-scale project proposed by RCEA and a consortium of developers.
In 2018, RCEA issued a Request for Qualifications for development partners, through which RCEA’s Board of Directors selected a consortium of companies to work with to pursue local offshore wind energy development. The consortium later formed a project company, Redwood Coast Offshore Wind LLC (ROW), in which RCEA was a partner.
RCEA and the consortium submitted an unsolicited lease application to BOEM for the Redwood Coast Offshore Wind project about 20-30 miles off the coast of Humboldt County. Although the lease application was not accepted, the lease area proposed by RCEA was subsequently absorbed into the Humboldt Wind Energy Area (WEA), which was ultimately leased through a BOEM auction in December 2022.
To learn more about the history of offshore wind, how it works, and the steps BOEM takes to work with many stakeholders when planning offshore wind development, watch BOEM’s “Renewable Energy Whiteboard” video.
2021 – Biden-Harris agreement to advance Offshore Wind
In May 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration announced an agreement to advance areas for offshore wind off the northern (Humboldt County) and central coasts of California. This significant milestone was part of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to create thousands of jobs through the deployment of 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind nationally by 2030. The environmental assessment and lease auction processes are being managed by BOEM.
2022 – BOEM Lease Auction and Provisional Awards
On December 6, 2022, BOEM held a lease auction for two parcels within the Humboldt Wind Energy Area, as well as three parcels off the Central Coast near Morro Bay. The two companies that were awarded Humboldt WEA leases were RWE Offshore Wind Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of RWE Renewables and California North Floating LLC, a subsidiary of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. While the ROW was proposing to generate 100-150 MW to support Humboldt County’s electricity needs, the current proposals for the Humboldt WEA are for upwards of 1 GW of generation capacity—ten times the lower end of the ROW project capacity.
2023 – Offshore Wind Leasing Process Continues
Leasing
Once leases have been awarded and executed, developers will meet and plan in advance of carrying out area surveys and site assessments.
Site Assessment
Environmental and cultural impact analysis must be performed, as well as construction and operations planning. BOEM will conduct in-depth environmental review once they have received submission of site assessment and construction and operations plans from developers.
Construction & Operations
Construction and fabrication begin after all reviews and analysis completed. Grid interconnection and full operation will happen after construction is finished.
RCEA Stakeholder Engagement
Throughout the process of exploring the potential of developing offshore wind resources in Humboldt, RCEA has been engaging with stakeholders in our community, including Tribes, environmental groups, local agencies and fisherman. The North Coast region is home to a commercial fishing industry that provides sustainably-caught seafood to our community and many others. For many generations these commercial fisheries have provided a livelihood for local fishermen and their families, and continue to be a key element of our region’s economy and local culture.
RCEA continues to recognize that a viable commercial fishing industry is integral to the economy and culture of the North Coast, and that the development of offshore wind energy will permanently impact the commercial fishing industry economically and culturally. We affirm that such development should be pursued in a manner that minimizes and mitigates impacts to fishing so that both endeavors can sustainably coexist for the benefit of our community.
During the time that the ROW consortium was actively pursuing floating offshore wind resource development in Humboldt, we established an MOU with the Humboldt Fishermen’s Marketing Association, agreeing to cooperate and work together in good faith to ensure that the development proceeded in a way that would effectively identify, avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to the commercial fishing industry to the greatest extent possible. RCEA remains committed to working together with our community members to ensure that our local community has a voice in the development of local resources.
The ROW developed and entered into an MOU with the Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation & Conservation District to cooperate on developing the infrastructure necessary for offshore wind in a way that mitigated or minimized impacts to current Port of Humboldt Bay users, existing waterfront businesses, local stakeholders, and the environment. The Port of Humboldt Bay is the only deep-water port in Northern California, and is a vital resource for local business, tourism, and to the regional ecosystem. Ensuring that future infrastructure development protects this resource and its functions is vital to sustainability and equity in Humboldt County.
Going into the Future
As Humboldt County’s offshore wind energy future unfolds, RCEA will continue to work with the BOEM lease holders, state and federal agencies, and local stakeholders to advocate for our community’s concerns and priorities in the development of any prospective projects off our coastline.
Additional Information and Resources
Documents
- BOEM Humboldt Wind Energy Area
- RCEA Memorandum of Understanding with Principle Power
- RCEA Memorandum of Understanding with the Humboldt Fishermen’s Marketing Association
- Memo of Understanding and Intent to Cooperate between the Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation & Conservation District and Redwood Coast Offshore Wind Project Partners
- Request for Qualifications – Offshore Wind Development Partners (closed).
- Notice of Recommendation for Preferred Respondent
- Eureka & Shelter Cove Fishing Community Sustainability Plans
News Articles
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces Winners of California Offshore Wind Energy Auction – December 7, 2022.
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces First-Ever Offshore Wind Lease Sale in the Pacific – October 18, 2022.
- CEC Adopts Historic California Offshore Wind Goals, Enough to Power Upwards of 25 Million Homes– August 10, 2022. the California Energy Commission (CEC) adopted a report establishing offshore wind goals and moving the state one step closer to development of the clean energy resource off California’s coast. Preliminary findings in the report set planning goals of 2,000-5,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind by 2030 and 25,000 MW by 2045, enough electricity to power 3.75 million initially and 25 million homes by mid-century.
- FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Commercial Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities in the Humboldt Wind Energy Area on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf. May 3, 2022
- Humboldt Wind Energy Final EA | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (boem.gov) May 3, 2022
- Secretary Haaland Outlines Ambitious Offshore Wind Leasing Strategy. October 13, 2021. BOEM to potentially hold up to seven new offshore lease sales by 2025
- Secretary Haaland, CEQ Chair Mallory Highlight Offshore Wind Developments in California with Federal, Tribal, State and Local Officials. August 10, 2021. They visited with U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, California Energy Commissioner Karen Douglas, Tribal leaders, and community officials to discuss offshore wind opportunities that will create jobs and strengthen the local economy.
- North Coast Journal – “Offshore Wind Gusts Forward” – A big announcement could see the North Coast open for wind farm bidding next year, by Thadeus Greenson. June 3, 2021.
- North Coast Journal “RCEA Applauds North Coast, Federal Offshore Wind Development Agreement”. May 26, 2021.
- Biden-Harris Administration Advances Offshore Wind in the Pacific May 25, 2021. Departments of the Interior, Defense and the State of California agree to accelerate wind energy offshore the central and northern coasts of California
- Newsom’s Budget Includes $11M for Port of Humboldt Bay Development to Support Emerging Offshore Wind Industry Press release from the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District. May 19, 2021
- FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Jumpstarts Offshore Wind Energy Projects to Create Jobs – March 29, 2021. Interior, Energy, Commerce, and Transportation Departments Announce New Leasing, Funding, and Development Goals to Accelerate and Deploy Offshore Wind Energy and Jobs
- Humboldt Bay Harbor District Exploring Major Port Redesign to Support Proposed Offshore Wind Energy Project. Feb. 8, 2021
- My Word: For North Coast economic recovery, look to offshore wind. April 2020.
- Journal Energies published the article “Resource and Load Compatibility Assessment of Wind Energy Offshore of Humboldt County, California“. The article, based on a BOEM-funded study, describes the offshore wind generation profile in the Humboldt Call Area and the compatibility with Humboldt County electric load. The article is free to download. October 31, 2020.
- Windpower Engineering and Development – Offshore wind is (finally) coming to America. RCEA is #4 out of the 8 most significant steps forward for offshore wind in 2018. December 17, 2018.
- NY Times – “Something New May Be Rising Off California Coast: Wind Farms”. October 19, 2018.
- North Coast Journal – “Facing the Wind”. A fisherman’s take on offshore wind, by Ken Bates and Linda Hilderbrand. October 18, 2018.
- San Diego Union Tribune – “Offshore wind farms coming to California — but the Navy says no to large sections of the coast.” May 6, 2018.
- Tina Casey / Clean Technica – “Don’t Mess With California: Floating Offshore Wind Farm Shapes Up As Trump Clamps Down.” April 6, 2018.
- Kallanish Energy – “First floating U.S. wind farm may be built off California.” April 6, 2018.
- Kuow – “California Takes Up Ocean Wind Energy After Oregon Project Fails.” April 4, 2018.
- Reuters – “Group pursuing floating wind farm off California coast.” April 3, 2018.
- North Coast Journal – “In the Wind” cover feature article on Offshore Wind in Humboldt County. February 21, 2018.
Does RCEA’s long-term contract for 100 MW of solar energy from the Sandrini Sol 1 project preclude RCEA contracting for offshore wind when that becomes available?
RCEA’s goal is to have a diversified power mix, and this long-term solar power purchase agreement is an ideal complement to offshore wind in a number of ways. The solar contract’s price per unit of energy is lower than we expect offshore wind to cost, but offshore wind’s time-of-day production better matches our customer energy demand throughout the day. In addition, the location of the solar project allows it to avoid the transmission access challenge that large-scale renewable energy generation sited in Humboldt County faces, due to our remoteness from the state’s main transmission corridors.
The Sandrini contract helps us meet our near-term SB350 compliance targets, which requires us to secure long-term renewable portfolio standard contracts, and it does so in a very cost-effective way. We could not have waited for offshore wind for this purpose, given the long development timeline. About half of RCEA’s portfolio remains open for long-term contracts.
Interviews, Webinars, and Audio
- Humboldt tour of the Operating Engineers Local 3 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center (JATC).
- California Coastal Commission: Informational Briefing and Public Comment on Offshore Wind. Informational briefing and public comment on Offshore Wind excerpted from a virtual meeting of the California Coastal Commission on September 9, 2021.
- Webinar series: Exploring the Feasibility of Offshore Wind Energy for the CA North Coast. The Schatz Center hosted a series of five webinar workshops on the feasibility of offshore wind energy development on California’s north coast. In each webinar, they shared topical findings from their recently conducted studies. After each presentation, there was a moderated panel discussion. Webinar participants were then invited to share their insights, questions, and perspectives. September and October 2020.
- Webinar: Potential Effects of Offshore Renewable Energy: Knowledge and Resources – Recorded April 15, 2020. Hosted by Pacific Ocean Energy Trust with a presentation by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. April 2020
- Interview: Astrid Skarheim Onsum, SVP, Head of Wind, Aker Solutions. Her view on the path ahead and the growing role and promising future of ‘floating wind.’ April 2019.
- Explore North Coast and the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center – Explore North Coast and the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center will present a talk in their lecture series Monday featuring Matthew Marshall, executive director of Redwood Coast Energy Authority. His presentation will focus on the potential of an offshore wind energy project. The lecture is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, 921, Waterfront Drive. Admission is free. September 10, 2018.
- KHSU Thursday Night Talk – TNT explored the Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s proposal to put a floating offshore wind farm off Humboldt’s coast. The proposal, which would place floating wind turbines ~20-24 miles offcoast, would generate enough power to light all of Humboldt. Guests Lori Biodini of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority and Jen Kalt of Humboldt Baykeeper discussed the proposal and potential environmental impacts, both positive and negative, with host Tom Wheeler. July 2018.
- Pacific Ocean Energy Trust (POET) – Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Regulatory Workshop Report: Moving to Better Information and Risk Retirement
- Jefferson Public Exchange – “North Coast Eyes Offshore Wind Farm,” interview with Lori Biondini of RCEA, Jason Busch of the Pacific Ocean Energy Trust, and Geoffrey Riley. April 24, 2018.
- California Energy Commission – Webinar on Offshore Renewable Energy (audio recording). March 12, 2018.
- KHSU EcoNews Report – Interview with Matthew Marshall and Jen Kalt. February 22, 2018.
- Sustainable Futures Speaker Series – “Do Wind Turbines Make Good Neighbors?” Founder’s Hall 118, at Humboldt State University. Presentation by Joseph Rand, Research Affiliate, Electricity Markets & Policy Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Video archive will be available soon from the HSU Library. February 22, 2018.
Hearings
Senator McGuire hosted a Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture an offshore wind energy hearing on May 3, 2019 at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center in Eureka.
- California’s Fisheries and Wildlife – Can they co-exist with Offshore Wind Energy Development?
- Access Humboldt Channel 11
Technical Reports
- The Schatz Energy Research Center’s offshore wind energy webpage: technical studies and webinars related to potential offshore wind energy development on the northern California and southern Oregon coasts, with research funded by the Ocean Protection Council, BOEM, the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and the California Energy Commission.
- The California Offshore Wind Project: A Vision for Industry Growth. The American Jobs Project. Through extensive research and over forty interviews with stakeholders and experts in California, the authors assessed the current challenges and opportunities for offshore wind development. Visit About California to read a summary of the report.
- High Road for Deep Water: Policy Options for a California Offshore Wind Industry by Robert Collier, Center for Labor Research and Education, University of California, Berkeley
- Potential Offshore Wind Energy Areas in California: An Assessment of Locations, Technology, and Costs by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
- West Coast Environmental Monitoring Protocols for Marine Renewable Energy – includes a case study for Humboldt offshore wind.
- Department of the Navy California Offshore Wind Compatibility Assessment. In anticipation of growing interest in developing wind energy projects offshore California, the Department of the Navy has conducted a mission compatibility assessment for the outer continental shelf. The compatibility assessment reflects the requirements of Navy and Marine Corps missions conducted in the air, on the surface, and below the surface of these waters.
Online Resources
- National Renewable Energy Lab’s United States Annual Average Wind Speeds
- Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Responsible for issuing leases for offshore wind energy projects in federal waters, the mission of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is to manage development of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf energy and mineral resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way.
- California Offshore Wind Energy Gateway. A joint project of BOEM, the CA Public Utilities Commission, and the CA Energy Commission, the Offshore Renewable Wind Energy Gateway assembles geospatial information on ocean wind resources, ecological and natural resources, ocean commercial and recreational uses and community values. This information will help identify areas off California that are potentially suitable for wind energy generation.
- CStories Beta Tool from Integral Consulting: A project in development by Integral Consulting and H.T. Harvey & Associates, providing digital tools to participate in marine renewable energy planning and development. Features: computer-generated chat response, infographics, news, and more.
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